Te Akau Riccarton Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has five horses entered on Wednesday 6 August at Riccarton.

Riccarton: 

Weather: fine, track: poly-track, rail: true. No rain forecast. 

11:30 a.m. R1 6 Celtic Bling (4 m Embellish – Niamh Elizabeth) – Michael McNab; she received an economical trip when finishing a close up fifth in the Maiden 2YO & Up 1200 metres on 3 July at Ashburton, and contests the $20,000 Maiden 1200 metres. She’s been runner-up in two of her three starts here (poly-track) over 1200 metres, her half-sisters Irish Red (Burgundy) and Sorcha (Burgundy) both are winners here on poly-track, the latter recording three victories, and this homebred mare she certainly looks a top three chance. Fixed odds: $3.20 & $1.35.

2:54 p.m. R7 5 Beau Brummell (5 g Embellish – Fashion Forward) – Joe Doyle; another homebred, he finished a close fifth in the Rating 75 2200 metres (poly-track) here on 9 July, won by race rival Ocean Light (Ocean Park), and contests the $45,000 Open Handicap 2200 metres. He roared home to win when resuming in the Rating 75 1600 metres (poly-track) here on 29 May, has won a in freshened state previously, and ideally drawn (2) to make the finish very interesting. Fixed odds: $8.50 & $2.60.

3:29 p.m. R8 13 Vivacious (5 m Dundeel – Vivi Veloce) – Bruno Queiroz; she charged home for victory in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 15 May, the repeated the dose in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 11 June - but unfortunately she received an interrupted passage in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 9 July, all here on the poly-track. She combines well with this rider, has been freshened, and look for her to be finishing strongly in the $100,000 Polytrack Championship (Open Handicap, 1200m). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.25.

4:39 p.m. R10 2 Rule Of Law (5 g Justify – Repeat) – Bruno Queiroz; the first of two stable runners in the last race on the programme, he produced a bold bid off the trail for a close third in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 26 June, and he kept lifting under a big weight (60kg) for a very close second (nose) in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 9 July, both here on the poly-track. He’s enjoying good form currently, with a first, two second and three third-placings in six starts to 1600 metres on poly-tracks, and should be right in the thick of the finish in the $35,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. Fixed odds: $4.50 & $1.95.

4:39 p.m. R10 6 Purple Prose (4 g Embellish – Lady Masako) – Joe Doyle; the second starter of the Te Akau duo, and another homebred, he capped good form on the course when quickening with a well-timed finish to win the Maiden 1600 metres (poly-track) here on 9 July, and likewise, he too contests the $35,000 Rating 65 1600 metres. He brings winning form to the contest, and is the type that can prove competitive up in grade with any luck from his wide draw (13). Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00. 

Main picture - Beau Brummell